Month: March 2011

This is a new segment on RealAgriculture.com that we are hoping you like because it is going to be a lot of fun for us to make and you to view. Based on the way that agricultural media has been cut back on TV and radio, many farmers do not have a “real person” understanding… Read More

There is no doubt that this year farmers in the Red River Valley region of Manitoba will be watching water levels closely. An above average amount of snow this winter as well as runoff from upstream could mean trouble for anyone caught in the flood plains. A slow melt so far has helped brighten the… Read More

It is maybe the most unpopular election in the history of Canada but elections provide opportunities. For groups or industries trying to get their message communicated to politicians and the general public, elections provide the opportunity to make quick progress. Will agriculture even make the debates? If agriculture does get discussed, what will be the… Read More

Markets go up and markets go down. In the last thirty days canola has taken quite a run in multiple directions. Is it overbought, oversold or just right. Ask all of us in November. The trading range of $500 – $600 per tonne seems to be a real opportunity to trade the range but for… Read More

As kids we used to laugh about people who bought bottled water. Who would pay for water! How about every nation on the planet. We need water on just about every level imaginable. It is a commodity that affects all other commodities. Droughts hurt crops, poor crops hurt supplies, demand for those supplies, in the… Read More

By Dick Haney There is now an eighth deadly sin – the sin of allowing ourselves to be fearful because of sensationalism and misinformation. The seven deadly sins which are anger, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony have been used to define those human shortcomings and pitfalls that we all face and must deal… Read More

The Grain Farmers of Ontario held their March Classic conference early this week with a sense of cautious optimism. Most Ontario growers had a great 2010, but echoes of the 2008 season are still lingering with the volatility of commodity prices and the weather situation very much in play. All in all the mood was… Read More

It has been a challenging year for cattle feeders in the respect that unhedged cattle have performed well financially but the majority of cattle for progressive producers were contracted or hedged. On top of this is the fact that replacing cattle in the feed yard is very expensive based on the break evens that are… Read More

Originally looked upon as “snake oil” seed treatments have become an integral part of the production system. For the most part many farmers originally had trouble understanding the value because the action was underground. Farmers are used to using products like herbicides that kills weeds which is very visual. The action of seed treatments is… Read More

By Jason Stroeve It’s a running joke that while it costs you $55 to $100 dollars a year to get into Costco, it usually costs you at least $200 dollars every time you leave. I like shopping at Costco and apparently so does the rest of the world. If you’re successful at navigating the parking… Read More

By Shaun Haney Its that time of year that we all take a deep breath. Agricultural tradeshow season is over and now its time to get down to the business of farming. This winter I have been across the country at the majority of the major farm shows. Many of the tradeshow booths are the… Read More

“Those dairy farmers print money!” That’s what a friend of mine says every time the subject of dairy farms comes up. Drive down many roads in Canada and it’s easy to see how that perception was born. Huge brand new facilities, multi-site operations with finely manicured yards and milking parlors with nicer tile most people’s… Read More

If you cannot see the embedded video above click here. There are extreme challenges in the grocery store in trying to decipher all the labelling, marketing and propaganda. With the current rise in food prices there has been an increased coverage of what food costs in the mainstream media. Some of the most expensive food… Read More

The standard rule of thumb for polite dinner conversation is never talk religion or politics. When it comes to the topic of biotechnology and GMO crops, it may be a good idea to make another addition to that list. Depending on who you talk to the opinions can range from ” those companies are raising… Read More

When agricultural commodity prices rise there are expected effects. Costs like fertilizer prices and machinery costs are always natural to rise in a rising commodity market. One of the costs that has not been discussed much is rising farmland rent costs. Ontario has some of the highest land rent rates in Canada for the major… Read More